Christmas+Cactus+Care+Sheet.Pdf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

CARE SHEET Christmas Cactus We typically think of cacti as being heat tolerant, but Christmas cactus keeps blossoms longer in cooler temperatures. Keep it in a well-lit location away from drafts from heat vents, fireplaces and other sources of hot air. Drafts or temperature extremes can cause buds to drop before they have a chance to open. WATER Christmas cactus is a tropical type plant, not quite as drought tolerant as its desert relatives and, in fact, may drop flower buds if the soil gets too dry. The plants will wilt when under drought stress. Water thoroughly when the top inch or so of soil feels dry to the touch. The length of time between watering will vary with the air temperature, amount of light, rate of growth and relative humidity. FERTILIZER The plant does not particularly need to be fertilized while in bloom, but most gardeners enjoy the challenge of keeping the plant after the holidays for re-bloom the next year. While plants are actively growing, use a blooming houseplant-type fertilizer and follow the label directions for how much and how often to feed. LIGHT While the Christmas cactus can adapt to low light, more abundant blooms are produced on plants that have been exposed to more light intensity. Keep plants in a sunny location indoors. They can be moved outdoors in summer to a shady or semi-shady location. Leaves may start to turn a bit red if exposed to excessive light, and too much direct sunlight can actually burn the leaves or cause them to become limp. When it's time to bring plants inside for fall, slowly adjust them to life indoors by gradually increasing the number of hours they spend indoors each day. REPOTTING If your plant tends to dry out and/or wilt frequently, it may be time to repot it into a slightly larger container. Well-drained soil is a must for Christmas cactus. Use a commercially packaged potting mix for succulent plants or mix your own by combining two parts plain potting soil with one part clean sand or vermiculite. PRUNING Pruning your cactus after blooming will encourage it to branch out. Remove a few sections of each stem by pinching them off with your fingers or cutting with a sharp knife. These sections can be rooted to propagate new plants. RE-BLOOMING Christmas cactus will bloom if given long, uninterrupted dark periods (12 hours each night). Begin dark treatments in mid-October to have plants in full bloom by the holidays. You can place plants in a dark closet from 8 pm-8 am each night for 6-8 weeks or until you see buds forming. Christmas cacti will also bloom if they are subjected to cool temperatures of 50°- 55° by early November, thus eliminating the need for dark treatments. Article by B. Rosie Lerner, Extension Consumer Horticulturist, Purdue University (540) 943-8408 48 Milmont Drive, Waynesboro, VA 22980 www.Milmont.com ©2013 .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Indoor Plants Or Houseplants
Visit us on the Web: www.gardeninghelp.org Indoor Plants or Houseplants Over the past twenty years houseplants have grown in popularity. Offered in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, colors and textures, houseplants beautify our homes and help soften our environment. They have been scientifically proven to improve our health by lowering blood pressure and removing pollutants from the air we breathe. When selecting a houseplant, choose reputable suppliers who specialize in growing houseplants. Get off to a good start by thoroughly examining each plant. Watch for brown edges and spindly growth with elongated stems and large gaps between new leaves. Inspect leaves and stem junctions for signs of insect or disease problems. Check any support stakes to make sure they are not hiding broken stems or branches. Finally, make sure the plant is placed in an area that suits its optimal requirements for light, temperature and humidity. Where to Place Your House Plants With the exception of the very darkest areas, you can always find a houseplant with growth requirements to match the environmental conditions in your home. The most important factors are light intensity and duration. The best way to determine the intensity of light at a window exposure area is to measure it with a light meter. A light meter measures light in units called foot-candles. One foot-candle is the amount of light from a candle spread over a square foot of surface area. Plants that prefer low light may produce dull, lifeless-looking leaves when exposed to bright light. Bright light can also cause leaf spots or brown-tipped scorched margins.
[Show full text]
General Houseplant Care
Dr. Sharon M. Douglas Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station 123 Huntington Street, P. O. Box 1106 New Haven, CT 06504 Phone: (203) 974-8601 Fax: (203) 974-8502 Founded in 1875 Email: [email protected] Putting science to work for society Website: www.ct.gov/caes GENERAL HOUSEPLANT CARE Caring for houseplants can be a mysterious since it does not supply a constant and and slightly confusing project for both the uniform amount of moisture in the air. To beginning and the experienced indoor raise humidity, potted plants can be set in gardener. This is further complicated by the glass or plexi-glass enclosures, which diversity of plants which are available, all of simulate a greenhouse. There should be which appear to have specific requirements openings so that the pots can be removed for for growth. General plant care is more watering and other care and to allow for straightforward when one considers the good air circulation. Another solution is to basic needs of every plant- water, soil, set the pots on moist gravel in plastic trays. fertilizer, and light. The gravel should be deep enough so that water will saturate the stones on the bottom Most plants will do well in bright indirect and leave the upper levels dry. In this way, light or curtain-filtered sunlight. Very hot the pot will never come in direct contact afternoon sun in summer can scald leaves. with the water. Bowls of water can also be Plants should be kept away from cold set in and among the potted plants to help windowpanes or direct sources of heat such increase the humidity in the air circulating as radiators, wood stoves, television sets, or directly around the plants.
[Show full text]
Pollination of Two Species of Ferocactus: Interactions Between Cactus-Specialist Bees and Their Host Plants
Functional Blackwell Publishing, Ltd. Ecology 2005 Pollination of two species of Ferocactus: interactions 19, 727–734 between cactus-specialist bees and their host plants M. E. MCINTOSH Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 1041 E. Lowell Street; BioSciences West, Room 310, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA Summary 1. Resolving the controversy over the prevalence of generalization in plant–pollinator interactions requires field studies characterizing the pollination effectiveness of all a plant’s floral visitors. Herein, the pollination effectiveness of all visitors to two species of barrel cactus (Ferocactus) was quantified. 2. Flowers of both species were pollinated almost exclusively by cactus-specialist bees: 99% (F. cylindraceus (Engelm.) Orcutt) and 94% (F. wislizeni (Engelm.) Britt. and Rose) of all seeds produced in this study resulted from cactus bee visits. 3. For F. cylindraceus, the cactus-specialist Diadasia rinconis was the most abundant visitor. For F. wislizeni, three cactus-specialists (including D. rinconis) plus generalists in the family Halictidae (which did not act as pollinators) each accounted for a quarter of all visits. 4. Diadasia rinconis visits to F. wislizeni flowers were more effective (per-visit) than visits by the other two cactus-specialists. 5. Pollen-collecting and nectar-collecting visits were equally effective. Nectar-collecting visits were the most abundant. 6. Apart from the non-pollinating halictids, floral visitors surprisingly did not include commonly co-occurring generalist bees. 7. These data suggest that, just as apparently specialized flowers may be visited by a diverse assemblage of generalists, so apparently generalized flowers may be visited predominantly by specialists, and that these specialists may perform virtually all of the pollination.
[Show full text]
Houseplant Care
222 W. Lake St. Bloomingdale 2400 Randall Rd. Carpentersville 630-529-9394 847-428-6767 HouseplantCare, Feeding and Growth Learning to Water Lighting The water needs of most houseplants are quite simple. Most plants like bright light in the home. East and • Don’t wait until the plant wilts, it is hard on the west windows have excellent lighting for plants. Be plant. cautious of plants in direct light as they may dry out • Do not let the plant sit in water. The soil will remain quicker from being in the sun. When situating plants, soggy causing the roots to rot. consider the outdoor landscape. A large tree may shade • Roots need air too, so be cautious not to keep plants south windows making it bright light in summer and too wet. direct light in winter. To check soil moisture insert your fi nger about an inch into the soil. Check plants weekly. As a general guide- Every plant has specifi c requirements, and are best line if the soil feels dry, you need to water. However, placed by light requirements rather than how the plant some plants prefer the soil wetter than others. Cactus looks in the spot. only need water when the soil dries out. Never allow Repotting watering to become a weekly “Saturday” routine. The Repotting is the topic of much speculation and myth. frequency of watering will change with the season and Most houseplants do not mind being root bound, and the plants growth. Most plants will only need to be some actually won’t fl ower unless they are.
[Show full text]
Cactus (Opuntia Spp.) As Forage 169
Cactus (Opuntia spp.) as forage 169 Food •••A.gricultv,.. Org•nU.taon or United -N••lon• FAO Cactus (Opuntiaspp.) PLANT PRODUCTION as forage AND PROTECTlON PAPER 169 Ed~ed by Candelario Mondragon-Jacobo lnstituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias (INIFAP) Mexico and Salvador Perez-Gonzalez Universidad Aut6noma de Queretaro Mexico Coordinated for FAD by Enrique Arias Horticultural Crops Group Stephen G. Reynolds Grassland and Pasture Crops Group FAO Plant Production and Protection Division and Manuel D. sanchez Feed Resources Group FAO Animal Production and HeaHh Division Produced within the frameworl< of the FAO International Technical Cooperation Networl< ot on Cactus Pear ••u nttttd• NaUon• Rome,2001 Reprinted 2002 The designations “developed” and “developing” economies are intended for statistical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgement about the stage reached by a particular country, country territory or area in the development process. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations or of their affiliated organization(s). The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. ISBN 92-5-104705-7 All rights reserved. Reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product for educational or other non-commercial purposes are authorized without any prior written permission from the copyright holders provided the source is fully acknowledged.
[Show full text]
Create a High Desert Cactus Garden
Care and Maintenance Located at The cactus garden will need very little maintenance TexasA&M AgriLife Research Center once established and little or no watering will be 1380 A&M Circle needed. Cacti will be able to survive on rainfall un- El Paso, TX 79927 less the area is experiencing an extended period of drought. A little supplemental water, however, will increase the rate of growth and can result in more attractive looking plants. Just be sure not to over GARDENING IN THE DESERT SOUTHWEST PUBLICATION SERIES water. Do not water cacti during the winter months. Cacti may be fertilized sparingly in the spring with a half-strength solution. A liquid bloom-boosting fertilizer is preferred. Create a High Desert Directions: From the West, Airport/Downtown El Paso on I-10: Take exit 34, Loop 375 / Americas Avenue, 8 miles Cactus Garden from Airway Blvd. This is the first exit after Zaragosa Road. Stay on Gateway East and go under Americas. Just past where traffic is merging onto Gateway East from Americas Avenue, turn right on A&M Circle at the green sign that says “Texas A&M Research Center”. From the East on I-10: Take exit 34, Loop 375 / Americas Avenue. This is the first exit after Eastlake Dr. Stay on Gateway West (the access road paralleling the freeway) and go under Americas Avenue. Immediately after that, bear right on the cloverleaf that takes you to Americas Ave- nue south. Cross the bridge and immediately take the exit for I- 10 east / Van Horn. You will be on Gateway East.
[Show full text]
Succulent Container Gardening 101
SUCCULENT CONTAINER GARDENING 101 MATERIALS—What you need! Container-- Be creative! Small piece of coco fiber, paper towel, or landscaper’s cloth to cover the drainage hole Expanded shale, or gravel for drainage Succulent/cactus soil Chopstick, bbq skewer, spoon, a small brush and other utensils for hard to reach areas Plants: Succulents, cacti, or sedum Optional: o Decorative gravel, stones or sand to achieve that finished look! o Charcoal used to keep containers with no drainage hole sweet and fresh. CARING FOR SUCCULENTS—True love! Soil: Succulents and cacti thrive in well draining, porous soils. Gravel or expanded shale can be added to the bottom of the container to help increase drainage. A basic, sandy potting soil mixed with vermiculite makes a great succulent mix! Light: Succulents do very well in bright, indirect light-- most succulents will burn in direct sunlight. Although there are types of cacti that, in their natural environment thrive in full sun, we are mostly dealing with artificial growing conditions; therefore the plants need some protection. Succulents and cacti grow well in a variety of places; a covered porch or patio, in a bright room, or in the shade of other plants. Water: There are a couple of basics when it comes to watering succulents. 1. Never let the container sit in a saucer of water. If your container does not have a drainage hole, you will need to water less. 2. Never water a container that does not feel dry (your finger is a great tool when testing moisture!). As a general rule, water once a week in the summer, or in warm conditions.
[Show full text]
Clover's Cactus Transplant Data Review
PETITION TO LIST THE Clover’s Cactus (Sclerocactus cloverae) UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT Clover’s cactus. Photo: Robert Sivinski Petition Submitted to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Acting through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Petitioner: WildEarth Guardians Address correspondence to: Taylor Jones [email protected] (720) 443-2615 May 29, 2020 INTRODUCTION WildEarth Guardians (Guardians) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) list Clover’s cactus (Sclerocactus cloverae) as “threatened” or “endangered” under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. §§ 1531- 1544). Guardians also requests that the Service designate critical habitat for the species concurrent with listing. ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT AND IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS The ESA, 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531-1544, was enacted in 1973 “to provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved, [and] to provide a program for the conservation of such endangered species and threatened species.” 16 U.S.C. § 1531(b). The protections of the ESA only apply to species that have been listed as endangered or threatened according to the provisions of the statute. The ESA delegates authority to determine whether a species should be listed as endangered or threatened to the Secretary of Interior, who has in turn delegated authority to the Director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. As defined in the ESA, an “endangered” species is one that is “in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” 16 U.S.C.
[Show full text]
Houseplant Care 101
LEAFY 101 101 HOUSEPLANT CAREHOUSEPLANT HOUSEPLANT CAREHOUSEPLANT Page 2 Page 3 LEAFY INTRODUCTION Have you stepped into a home, and everything just felt “right”? The air is fresh, sunlight trickles in through a window, and bunches of leafy green plants bask joyfully in the sun’s warm glow. The room abounds with life, vitality, and energy, but with an unmistakable aura of calm and relaxation. The furniture might all be from Ikea, but something about the room feels so unique and personal, unlike any place you’ve been before. 101 101 That feeling of admiration and calm you experience is what happens when wellness, home décor, and lifestyle collide. CAREHOUSEPLANT Houseplants have been a part of décor, wellness, and lifestyle for a long time, and lots of people have used them to beautify a space, bring a little nature inside, and express their personality. Humans have always sought beautiful, calming, vibrant spaces, especially in HOUSEPLANT CAREHOUSEPLANT their homes, which explains why houseplants have gained such tremendous popularity. At Leafy, we’ve been San Francisco Bay Area’s indoor plant experts for years, and it’s a thrill to be on the frontlines of the houseplant revival. The more we help people discover the joy of plants, the more people we want to help! We started as a brick and mortar store, then expanded into online ordering and shipping nationwide to keep up with demand. But we wanted to take it one step further by empowering people not just with our vibrant, healthy Leafy plants, but with the knowledge to select and care for them properly.
[Show full text]
Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society Guide to Common Cactus and Succulents of Tucson
Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society Guide to Common Cactus and Succulents of Tucson http://www.tucsoncactus.org/c-s_database/index.html Item ID: 1 Item ID: 2 Family: Cactaceae Family: Cactaceae Genus: Ferocactus Genus: Echinocactus Species: wislizenii Species: grusonii Common Name: Fishhook Barrel Common Name: Golden Barrel Habitat: Various soil types from 1,000 Cactus to 6,000 feet elevation from grasslands Habitat: Located on rolling hills to rocky mountainous areas. and cliffs. Range: Arizona, southwestern New Range: Limited to small areas in Mexico, limited extremes of western Queretaro, Mexico. The popula- Texas, Sonora, northwest Chihuahua tion had become very low in num- and northern Sinaloa, Mexico bers over the years but is just Care: An extremely easy plant to grow now beginning to increase due to in and around the Tucson area. It re- protective laws and the fact that Photo Courtesy of Vonn Watkins quires little attention or special care as this plant is now in mass cultiva- ©1999 it is perfectly at home in almost any tion all over the world. garden setting. It is very tolerant of ex- Photo Courtesy of American Desert Care: The Golden Barrel has slow- Description treme heat as well as cold. Cold hardi- Plants ly become one of the most pur- This popular barrel cactus is noted ness tolerance is at around 10 degrees chased plants for home landscape for the beautiful golden yellow farenheit. Description in Tucson. It is an easy plant to spines that thickly surround the Propagation: Propagation of this cac- This plant is most recognized by the grow and takes no special care.
[Show full text]
Ecology and Conservation of the Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl in Arizona
United States Department of Agriculture Ecology and Conservation Forest Service Rocky Mountain of the Cactus Ferruginous Research Station General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-43 Pygmy-Owl in Arizona January 2000 Abstract ____________________________________ Cartron, Jean-Luc E.; Finch, Deborah M., tech. eds. 2000. Ecology and conservation of the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl in Arizona. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-43. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 68 p. This report is the result of a cooperative effort by the Rocky Mountain Research Station and the USDA Forest Service Region 3, with participation by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Bureau of Land Management. It assesses the state of knowledge related to the conservation status of the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl in Arizona. The population decline of this owl has been attributed to the loss of riparian areas before and after the turn of the 20th century. Currently, the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl is chiefly found in southern Arizona in xeroriparian vegetation and well- structured upland desertscrub. The primary threat to the remaining pygmy-owl population appears to be continued habitat loss due to residential development. Important information gaps exist and prevent a full understanding of the current population status of the owl and its conservation needs. Fort Collins Service Center Telephone (970) 498-1392 FAX (970) 498-1396 E-mail rschneider/[email protected] Web site http://www.fs.fed.us/rm Mailing Address Publications Distribution Rocky Mountain Research Station 240 W. Prospect Road Fort Collins, CO 80526-2098 Cover photo—Clockwise from top: photograph of fledgling in Arizona by Jean-Luc Cartron, photo- graph of adult ferruginous pygmy-owl in Arizona by Bob Miles, photograph of adult cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl in Texas by Glenn Proudfoot.
[Show full text]
Crop Ecology, Cultivation and Uses of Cactus Pear
CROP ECOLOGY, CULTIVATION AND USES OF CACTUS PEAR Advance draft prepared for the IX INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON CACTUS PEAR AND COCHINEAL CAM crops for a hotter and drier world Coquimbo, Chile, 26-30 March 2017 CROP ECOLOGY, CULTIVATION AND USES OF CACTUS PEAR Editorial team Prof. Paolo Inglese, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy; General Coordinator Of the Cactusnet Dr. Candelario Mondragon, INIFAP, Mexico Dr. Ali Nefzaoui, ICARDA, Tunisia Prof. Carmen Sáenz, Universidad de Chile, Chile Coordination team Makiko Taguchi, FAO Harinder Makkar, FAO Mounir Louhaichi, ICARDA Editorial support Ruth Duffy Book design and layout Davide Moretti, Art&Design − Rome Published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas Rome, 2017 The designations employed and the FAO encourages the use, reproduction and presentation of material in this information dissemination of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any product. Except where otherwise indicated, opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food material may be copied, downloaded and Agriculture Organization of the United and printed for private study, research Nations (FAO), or of the International Center and teaching purposes, or for use in non- for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas commercial products or services, provided (ICARDA) concerning the legal or development that appropriate acknowledgement of FAO status of any country, territory, city or area as the source and copyright holder is given or of its authorities, or concerning the and that FAO’s endorsement of users’ views, delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
[Show full text]